According to the International Foundation for Gastrointestinal Foundation Disorders, in the United States, about 5 million people suffer from gastroparesis. Gastroparesis is a condition in which the normal movement of the muscles in your stomach are affected, making it hard to empty itself of food. This interferes with your body’s normal digestion causing you to experience nausea, vomiting, high blood sugar levels, heartburn and nutrition problems.

The cause of this disease is unknown, without a clear explanation of what leads to gastroparesis, it is believed that one of the causes can be damage to the vagus nerve, which is a nerve that controls the stomach muscles. Without a cure, there are some ways to get relief by changing your diet and medication.

Your risk of developing gastroparesis becomes higher if you have diabetes, stomach surgeries, or nervous system diseases. The treatment for gastroparesis includes medications and in some cases surgeries. If you would like a second opinion on the treatment you are being prescribed, contact us to get an opinion from one of our American board-certified doctors at SecondOpinions.com.